PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kazuy Uesugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashley Banal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Uesugi
vs
Banal

175 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
24
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuy Uesugi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ashley Banal!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Banal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Banal is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Uesugi controls the position for a moment.
Banal moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Uesugi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Uesugi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Banal wants to control but Uesugi is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banal in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Banal in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Uesugi is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Uesugi taking a bit of punishment here - Banal scoring with strikes.
Uesugi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Banal trying to control the action but Uesugi is working from the bottom.
Banal throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banal scores with punches from side control.

Banal decides to stand back up. Banal steps back and let's Uesugi get back to his feet.
Banal throws a series of punches but Uesugi avoids them all with ease.
Uesugi fails with the takedown

and Banal counters with a shoot takedown. Uesugi fights it but they end up in guard.
Uesugi looking for a sweep. Not yet Uesugi, not yet.
Banal showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Uesugi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Banal!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banal tries to reverse the position but Uesugi maintains control.
Banal tries to hold on but Uesugi postures up.
Banal can't escape the position.
Banal flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ashley Banal dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Banal has Uesugi up against the cage in a clinch.

Banal manages to break the clinch.

Uesugi feints and as Banal raises his hands in defense, Uesugi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Banal wants to sweep but no luck.
Uesugi advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Banal's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Banal is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Uesugi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
You can see the frustration on Banal's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Banal is looking to regain half guard here but Uesugi keeps moving and retains side control.
Banal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banal misses with a head kick.
Banal tries for a takedown but Uesugi circles away easily

and Uesugi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Banal!
Uesugi content just to control the position here.
Uesugi trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banal tries to hold on but Uesugi pushes him away.

Uesugi wants to finish this one by submission but Banal is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Uesugi.
Banal is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Banal tries to reverse the position but Uesugi maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Banal wants to hold on but Uesugi pushes him away.
Uesugi prevents Banal from getting the reversal.
Kazuy Uesugi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Uesugi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Uesugi prevents Banal from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuy Uesugi dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Banal looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Uesugi striking off his back but it's not causing Banal any problems.
Banal controlling from the top position.
Banal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Uesugi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banal controls from within his opponent's guard.
Uesugi trying to control the position.
Banal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Uesugi's guard.
Banal stopping the sweep attempt from Uesugi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Banal wants to pass the guard but Uesugi is keeping the position.
Uesugi controlling the position.
Banal is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Banal decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Banal wants to get back to his feet.
Uesugi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Banal scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banal content to control rather than advance.
Uesugi won't allow Banal to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Banal stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashley Banal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Banal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ashley Banal!